Coventry MP made shadow minister for women and equalities

Coventry MP Taiwo Owatemi has been appointed shadow minister for women and equalities.

Ms Owatemi, first elected MP for Coventry North in 2019, has replaced Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North who stepped down last week for personal reasons.

Ms Owatemi said: “I am excited to be taking on this new role as Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities alongside my role as whip.

“Championing equality and celebrating who you are goes to the heart of why I first stood to be a Member of Parliament.

“I am looking forward to working alongside the brilliant Anneliese Dodds as we hold this government and its woeful track record to account and continue to develop Labour’s Race Equality Act.

“My constituents and the British public deserve a government that puts equality at the heart of everything it does. I will fight for this every day.”

Labour party Chair Anneliese Dodds MP was appointed the new shadow secretary of state for women and equalities this week.

She replaces Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova, who stepped down from the role last Tuesday, citing a desire to focus on her constituency.

On the appointments, Labour leader Sir Starmer said: “I’m really pleased to be able to appoint Anneliese Dodds as Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary at what is a vital time in our ongoing campaign for equality.

“I would also like to welcome Taiwo Owatemi to her new role and I know she’ll be a great addition to the team.”